No doubt, the American Power Boat Racing Association’s Gold Cup is the sport’s 24-karat event.

The Gold Cup is, after all, the oldest active trophy in motorsports. Many call it the Super Bowl of hydroplane racing.

Still, everything that glitters in the world of powerboats isn’t necessarily Gold.

Did you know that six of the eight drivers involved in the Gold Cup decided on the Detroit River last Sunday had also raced in Quake on the Lake, an annual event that will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Pontiac Lake in western Oakland County?

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Quake on the Lake has been hosted in Oakland County since 1999. Since its inception, 19 APBA world speed records have been set in five different classes making Pontiac Lake one of the fastest one-mile courses in the country.

Ray Dong will be the pit manager at Quake on the Lake.

“Boat racing is a family sport,” said Dong. “Anyone who wants to go fast on the water can get involved. Really, it is a throwback sport. People do it because they love it; they do it to win trophies and medals.

“Jimmy Shane, who just won the Gold Cup, raced here. I raced against Jimmy’s dad for years. He comes from a racing family; his mom races and his younger sister races.”

Shane drove the U-6 Oberto to victory in the Gold Cup final in the Detroit Sunday. It was the first DYC Detroit APBA Gold Cup win for a boat sponsored by Oberto Beef Jerky, which has been in unlimited hydroplane racing since 1975.

“I got involved with Quake on the Lake because I’m an ex-racer,” said Dong, a retired engineer from Ford Motor Company. “All of us are volunteers. We do it because we love racing.”

That love will be in evidence this weekend.

Things get under way at 3 p.m., Friday, with many of the boats doing hot laps.

While the racing will definitely be the focus this weekend, there will also be other entertainment options including a beach party, classic car show and live music.

The Biggest Beach Party in Oakland County will feature volleyball, sand castle building and tossing Frisbees.

The live music will begin at 5 p.m., Friday, with country singer Audrey Ray. Following at 7 is another country singer, Julianne Ankley. Her latest album “Vivid,” was the winner of the 2012 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Country recording.

The music continues on Saturday, and it will have a definite beach vibe. The Swank Club, a steel drum-driven five piece band, will be on stage from 5 p.m. until 7. Following will be Air Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band that does its subject matter proud.

While the sounds of drums and guitars will be a pleasant diversion, what most people come for is the roar of the power boats.

Legendary driver Tom D’Eath is the honorary chairperson of this year’s Quake on the Lake.

“Tom is one of us,” said Dong. “He spring-boarded from inboards to win three Gold Cups. He represents us and we are proud and honored.”

D’Eath won national championships in nearly every class of hydroplane racing. His father, Al, raced unlimited and midgets and Tom started at the age of 14 racing in the “A” Utility Stock Outboard Class. That was just the beginning of a truly remarkable career.

The 15th annual Quake on the Lake will be held at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 2201 North Williams Lake Road, Waterford, on Friday, from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. For more information, visit www.quakeonthelake.org.